Under The Moonlight: A Withering Flower I Story By Fadhi
Under the Moonlight : A Withering Flower ” by Fadhi Faisal, 15, from Kozhikode, is a hauntingly beautiful short story about loneliness, loss, and the quiet resilience of a forgotten old woman under the moonlit sky.
Under The Moonlight: A Withering Flower
“Her worn-out hands once a
Cradle, now held only dust;
Her tireless heart, a forgotten
Well in a barren old land ”
– Anonymous
The Lonely Night -The Moonlit City
The moon coruscated brightly in the sky illuminating the whole city a luxurious silver colour. The splendid of the stars were deprecated by the majestic moon. The cold, dry, oppressive wind blew through the city as a flat blade of ice on the body of a homeless old women who sheltering under a closed shop’s steps, found it hard to extract warmth from her dirty old torn bedsheet. Covering her entire body tightly clutching the bedsheet was also of no use as the wind stabbed her harshly through the minute holes. She at last gave up and sat upright thinking of what to do. The rain was no problem provided she had a well sheltered area. Most shops had that sunshade and it was peaceful sleeping hearing the rain lash upon the roof. But it was the wind, the cold one which gave her sleepless nights.
The Woman and the Moon A Face of Stories Untold
The women vigilantly watch the moon. Her droopy eyes, a beautiful brown colour placed deep inside her sockets glinted brightly from the light. Her bony face covered with wrinkles all over had upright hollow cheeks, which gave her a cavernous look, an impression of unrequited hunger. When her delicate lips broke a sweet smile, you could see the lovely dimple it creates. But the women hadn’t smiled in years and her lips were now pale and almost white. Her whole body seemed lifeless, her movements felt mechanic, her face bloodless. If one looks through her face, peer at the inside of her closely, you could see she had been very quaint in her prime. Now everything was lost, her home, her children……She couldn’t quite put her finger on why she lived. Only a few people in the city who constantly helps her, knew her. Otherwise, she was a cryptic sort of a women who held secrets or more likely someone who had a cruel life behind her that was inexplicable. She was an object of pity. Kind of a stray , which feeds on bits thrown by strangers. She couldn’t unravel the reason why she was spat out to suffer. Her life seemed dilatory with nothing to look forward to. It felt almost as if she had adjudicated from the fast pace of life.
The Search for Shelter – A Walk Through the Silent Streets
The women get up bound for a more comfortable space where the winds can’t spot her. She treads along the dimly lit street barefoot; her feet being abrasively licked by the cold pavement. She shudders and vibrates frantically; the bedsheet she clung to offering no help. She continues to walk at a leisure pace through the street flanked by houses on either side. She sighed. How she longed to be in a house which will be sheltering her from all sides. Rain, wind, snow, no problem. She can doze peacefully through them all.
Memories of the Past – The Flower and the Bees
The old women once had been a magnificent flower filled with the sweetest nectar and her beloved bees and butterflies swarm around her, nourishing her sweetness. She was very much loved and respected by the bees and butterflies. But as the earth changed seasons, the flower was slowly becoming became less and less sweet. Before long, the longstanding and neglected disease finally took its toll, robbing her of the sweetness all at once. And then suddenly she finds herself lonely. The bees she possessed and the butterflies she loved and cared for turned their backs and she was let to wither Had she vitiated the bees and butterflies with her nectar so that it no longer came back? It seemed nebulous……
The Silent Laugh in the Snow
The women drained out of her mere strength atlast decided to lay down on a wooden bench by the street that usually acted as a relief to worn out pedestrians. The bench was not fit for her size, but she laid down, having wanted to mollify her limbs and muscles. The women’s foot which could not be accommodated on the bench lay dangling out, generously swaying. The wind had calmed a bit now as she laid there. The moon was deprived of its autocracy as a few clouds hid it behind them. The moon seemed to play hide and seek with the clouds as it emerged for sometimes and then disappeared. The clock hanged on a post nearby struck half past two. Then suddenly something very cold pricks on the women’s hand. It felt like a sharp needle and when she looked at it, she saw a tiny snowflake. She looked upwards into the sky and saw thousands of them heading for the earth like arrows. Suddenly springing up, she wets her dry lower lip. And then on the edges of it a smile appears. Her mouth opens arresting the smile, but revealing slightly yellowish tinted teeth. And all of a sudden, she laughs. And what a laugh it was! The volatile vociferous deep hollow laugh rang throughout the street and then suddenly she closes her mouth as abruptly as she had opened it. The night takes over and everything is silent and normal as ever. Her dark brown eyes glinting in the moonlight suddenly turns watery. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Was she crying or is it the laugh that brought down tears… one barely knows……
Frequently Askes questions ( FAQs ): A Withering Flower Beneath the Moonlight
Q1. What is A Withering Flower Beneath the Moonlight about?
A Withering Flower Beneath the Moonlight is a deeply emotional short story about an old homeless woman spending a lonely night under the cold, silver moon. Through vivid imagery and poetic prose, it captures her pain, memories, and quiet acceptance of life’s end a reflection on loneliness and human fragility.
Q2. Who wrote A Withering Flower Beneath the Moonlight?
The story is written by Fadhi Faisal, a 15-year-old writer from Kozhikode, India. Despite his young age, Fadhi showcases extraordinary maturity and sensitivity in his writing, weaving powerful emotions with lyrical imagery.
Q3. What is the main theme of the story?
The story explores loneliness, loss, and the passage of time. It reflects how love, beauty, and belonging fade with age, leaving behind silence and memories. The “withering flower” represents the woman’s old age, while the “moonlight” symbolizes hope and remembrance.
Q4. What does “A Withering Flower” symbolize?
The “withering flower” symbolizes the fragility of life and forgotten beauty. Once admired and full of vitality, the flower like the woman now faces neglect. It’s a powerful metaphor for how time and circumstance strip away the warmth once cherished by others.
Q5. Why is the moon important in the story?
The moon serves as both a witness and a companion. Its cold light mirrors the woman’s solitude but also gives her quiet comfort. It becomes a silent listener to her unspoken grief, making the story’s atmosphere both beautiful and sorrowful.
Q6. Why does the woman laugh in the end?
Her laughter in the falling snow is symbolic part joy, part surrender. It may represent a final acceptance of her fate or a fleeting moment of peace. The ambiguity of her laughter leaves readers reflecting on life, death, and the fragile line between despair and serenity.
Q7. What message does the story convey?
The story reminds readers to show empathy and kindness to the unseen and forgotten people around us. It speaks of the quiet strength of the human spirit and the beauty that still exists even.
Q8. What makes this story special?
Its poetic narration, vivid imagery, and emotional depth make A Withering Flower Beneath the Moonlight stand out. Written by a young author, it blends realism and lyricism, touching the reader’s heart while offering deep reflection on human life.
Q9.Are there any interesting books?
Yes, there are many books that Bookosmia publishes. It takes India’s No 1 Publisher for Children’s Book Publishing.
You can check the Shop section of Bookosmia website and explore the various books.
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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia is Children’s Book publisher and publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.
Photo Credit – AI Generated Images by Magic Media of Canva and Chat GPT.
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